Elder Abuse

There may be certain risk factors that make a caregiver more likely to abuse an older adult in both the home and in professional care environments, such as:

• current and untreated mental illness;
• current alcohol abuse;
• lack of patience;
• having a “short temper;”
• lack of preparation and training for caregiving responsibilities;
• caregiving from an early age;
• lack of coping skills;
• exposure to abuse as a child;
• financial or emotional dependence on a vulnerable older adult;
• a history of disruptive behavior;
• lack of social and institutional support;
• lack of formal services in the community for caregivers, like respite care, frequent breaks, or shift changes at a nursing home;
• an environment that tolerates or accepts aggressive behavior;
• lack of administrative or community oversight for healthcare personnel, guardians, or other people responsible for an older adult’s care;
• isolation from friends, family, or a support network;
• negative or unsympathetic beliefs about older adults and aging; and
• under-staffing, staff burnout, and stressful working conditions.¹

¹ This information was adapted from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.